Shibu Soren, iconic tribal leader who fought for Jharkhand's statehood, passes away at 81
was among the last surviving leaders who fought for a separate
Jharkhand state
and ensured that tribals led a life of dignity. He couldn't have imagined a better outcome for the tribal movement which he led from his early days. The
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha
(JMM), the party he founded with his friends Vinod Bihari Mahato and AK Roy in 1973, currently is in power in the state for two consecutive terms with his son
Hemant Soren
being the chief minister. The state has announced three days mourning for the 81-year-old
tribal leader
.
Born in a farmer's family in 1944, he was the second of four children. His father, Sobaran Soren, was a teacher who participated in the freedom movement. In 1957, his father was murdered and that changed his life. Soren started galvanising tribals and creating awareness among them against the money lenders who used to charge enormously high interest rates from tribal farmers. The money lenders would finally take control of the tribal land because of high interest rates. His campaign started gaining strength and became a movement for a separate state of Jharkhand for tribals. This is one of the reasons his party JMM still has strong support among the tribal community across the state.
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Shibu Soren's
political career
was a mix of success and controversies. He became Lok Sabha MP for a record eight times and was a four-time Rajya Sabha member, including the current term. In 1993, he was one of the four JMM MPs who was accused of taking a bribe for voting in favour of the government on a no-confidence motion. He was acquitted by the Supreme Court in 1998.
In 2004, he became the union coal minister in the UPA government. But, he had to resign and surrender after an arrest warrant was issued in the 1975
Chirudih massacre
case, in which he was named the main accused in the killing of 11 people. He finally got acquitted in the case in March 2008. After getting bail, he was inducted into the central cabinet only to resign later to become the CM of Jharkhand in 2005. However, the tenure lasted 10 days as the government couldn't prove a vote of confidence. He became a union minister again only to resign after 10 months after getting convicted in another murder case of his private secretary Shashi Nath Jha in Delhi. He got acquitted in the case.
In 2008, he became the Jharkhand CM for the second time. He contested the by election from Tamar to become an MLA but lost. He had to resign again as CM. He became CM again in December 2008 and resigned in May 2009. In 2019, he lost the Lok Sabha election from Dumka. In April 2025, he passed the JMM presidency to his son, Hemant Soren, the current Jharkhand CM. Despite controversies, Soren remained an icon for the tribal and poor communities of the state.
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Time of India
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Hazaribag: I first met Shibu Soren during my days at St Columba's College in Hazaribag in 1959. The two of us had passed matriculation examination from St Columba's Collegiate School. Even then, Shibu was a charismatic figure. He had a fire in his eyes that spoke of his deep passion for the separate statehood movement. We became friends in no time, and he often shared his dreams and ideas with me. One of the most memorable experiences was when Shibu took me to his native village, Nemra, which was then part of the Hazaribag district in undivided Bihar. It was there that I truly understood the depth of his commitment to the tribal people and their struggles. He spoke passionately about the injustices they faced, particularly at the hands of the Mahajans (moneylenders) who exploited them by providing loans and then seizing their lands when they couldn't repay. Shibu's determination to fight against these injustices was infectious. Along with Professor Dr. Premchand Horo and Mohammed Rafiq Ansari, he began to mobilize support for the Jharkhand movement in Hazaribag. Soon, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha was contesting the Bihar Assembly Elections. Although Rafiq Ansari narrowly lost the Hazaribag seat, the movement had made its mark. I recall the excitement and hope that filled the air during those days. The abolition of the Zamindari system by Bihar's Revenue Minister, KB Sahay, was a significant victory for the movement led by Shibu. He would often visit Hazaribag, and I had the privilege of interviewing him at the Circuit House about the future of the Jharkhand state. His vision was clear, and his resolve unwavering, even as his health began to decline in later years. As I reflect on those times, I am reminded of Shibu's unwavering dedication to the cause of Jharkhand. His legacy as the Dishom Guru and JMM Supremo lives on, inspiring future generations to continue the fight for justice and equality.
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